Seattle (LabNews Media LLC) – US company PhyPal announced the relaunch of its patient platform on Friday. The updated version combines modern conversational AI with the original deterministic clinical technology, according to the company. The platform connects patient intake, clinical documentation, outcome tracking, and treatment authorization. A pilot phase is underway at a large California occupational medicine practice.
PhyPal was founded in 2018 by Ranjeet Randhawa and the late Dr. Michael Brown. The company developed Snapcare, a patient engagement system supported by a randomized controlled trial of 93 patients published in the European Spine Journal. Patients using Snapcare alongside conventional care experienced a significantly greater reduction in impairment after twelve weeks (p < 0.001), according to the company.
Despite this clinical foundation, the technology faced a fundamental limitation: rule-based systems could follow structured paths but struggled with unpredictable patient conversations. “Michael used to describe patient conversations as peeling an onion,” said Randhawa. “Layer by layer, until you understand what’s really going on. We had the clinical foundation, but the technology couldn’t sustain those conversations.”
AI changes the possibilities
PhyPal now combines large language models with deterministic clinical workflows, according to the company. This enables natural patient conversations while maintaining structured controls over information capture and downstream processes. More than 1,200 patients have already completed pre-visit intake assessments using PhyPal’s technology, according to the company. The platform also supports post-visit summaries, longitudinal outcome tracking, and authorization coordination.
“PhyPal has made collecting patient data faster and easier, allowing me to spend my time analyzing problems and communicating directly with patients,” said Dr. Richard Jimenez, a rheumatologist at Seattle Arthritis Clinic.
From patient consultation to treatment authorization
PhyPal's enhanced capabilities connect patient stories and clinical findings with the preparation, submission, and tracking of prior authorization requests, according to the company. The California pilot phase is intended to evaluate opportunities to reduce administrative work and improve care coordination.
“We didn’t need AI to invent our clinical foundation,” Randhawa said. “We needed AI to make that foundation accessible through natural conversation. Health care doesn’t need another chatbot. It needs technology that connects what patients are saying with what providers need to do next.”
About PhyPal
Founded in 2018, PhyPal develops AI-powered infrastructure for patient engagement and clinical workflows that combines conversational intelligence with deterministic clinical processes, according to the company.
Clinical trial: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30324496
